Fire at Seomyeon Karaoke Bar Kills Nine

BUSAN, South Korea — A fire at a karaoke in Seomyeon Saturday night has tragically killed nine people. Among the dead include six Koreans and three foreigners, reported to be migrant workers from Sri Lanka. Twenty-five others were also injured.

The fire broke out early in the third floor of the six story building. Yonhap News Agency quoted police officials as saying that most of the victims died from inhaling toxic gases and smoke, which made it difficult for the people to find the exits.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but reports of a bang before the fire alluded to a circuit bursting. Over 20 fire trucks and 100 firefighters responded to the blaze, which they extinguished around 10 p.m.